TRAFFIC NEWS and Updates

New York City Department Of Transportation

No Street Cleaning On Christmas Day

In observance of Christmas Day, alternate-side parking rules and meter regulations will be suspended on Tuesday, Dec. 25. Drive safely and remember to enjoy all festivities responsibly. Don’t drink and drive!

Gridlock Alerts For The Holidays

During the holiday season, the DOT has enacted its Holiday Traffic Plan to keep vehicles moving in Manhattan. The agency has designated certain dates as “gridlock alert days” in which higher-than-normal traffic is anticipated.

Residents, commuters and visitors are strongly advised to use mass transit on the following gridlock alert days: Thursday and Friday, Dec. 20 and 21.

Road Work

Because of ongoing construction work at several locations throughout Queens and Brooklyn, the New York City Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced numerous street closures in local neighborhoods for the upcoming week.

The announced diversions are current as of Wednesday, Dec. 19. The DOT may shut down other roads should the need for emergency repairs arise.

Streets and highways that are affected by closures during this week include the following:

Lane Closures On Van Wyck Expwy.

One of three lanes in each direction of the Van Wyck Expressway between Jewel Avenue and Union Turnpike may be closed on Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. due to construction work related to the Kew Gardens rehabilitation project.

Additionally, up to two lanes in either direction of the expressway in the same section may be closed on overnights from 1 to 5 a.m.

Kew Gdns. Project Affects Union Tpke.

Long-term construction related to the state Department of Transportation’s Kew Gardens Interchange project will require the right lane of Union Turnpike eastbound to be closed at all times between 128th and 134th streets. All existing traffic lanes will remain open and are shifted to the left.

Lane Closures On Grand Central Pkwy.

One lane of the Grand Central Parkway in each direction will be closed between 82nd and 111th streets on weekdays from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. on weekdays. Lane closures will also take place from 10 p.m. Fridays to 7 a.m. Saturdays and from 10 p.m. Saturdays to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Two lanes of traffic in each direction may be closed on weeknights from 12:01 until 5 a.m., Saturdays from 1 to 6 a.m. and Sundays from 1 to 9 a.m.

For additional closures, visit the city DOT’s website at www.nyc.gov/dot or call 311.